Vudu: Sneak Peek At New Movie Service And Device

Too lazy to go to the video store or update your Netflix queue? Tired of the limited number of movies available through cable services on demand? We recently got a sneak peek at Vudu, a small peer-to-peer video on demand device that will offer access to more than 5,000 HD videos directly to your TV, without requiring a PC or Cable TV service. While the product hasn't been officially announced yet, its company slogan ("the right movie. right now.") and vision are pretty innovative.

The device, which will be released sometime before the end of summer and cost less than $500, will give users the ability to buy or rent movies and download them via their broadband internet connection. It also features a clean user interface with a small remote that allows you to easily scroll through the lineup. Vudu has deals with seven major studios and numerous independent and international distributors so it will offer both mainstream new releases and smaller indie films. Unlike cable or TiVo there won't be a monthly fee, but rentals will cost 99 cents to $3.99 and video purchases will cost somewhere between $4.99 to $19.99. Your downloads will be stored on the Vudu box. Pretty snazzy looking, no?